1. Because babies can’t march
Babies can’t march. They can’t talk, lodge a complaint, or file a lawsuit. Usually, they aren’t even seen by their mother during or after an abortion.
But images of them were seen by thousands at the 2024 Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) March for Life on January 22 at the state Capitol in Saint Paul. Heritage House created 12,000 lifelike fetal models for marchers to place on a stand on the Capitol steps, representing the many sizes and ethnicities of the 12,175 babies killed by abortion in one year in Minnesota (according to 2022 Minnesota Department of Health statistics).
killed by abortion in one year in Minnesota
MCCL
In 2023, Democrat Governor Tim Walz and the Democrat-controlled legislature struck down laws that protected pregnant women by providing informed consent before an abortion, and laws that required reasonable medical care be given to keep alive any infant who survives an abortion.
“Minnesota Nice” is the slogan for the atmosphere of this state, but it has become one of the worst places in the world to be an unborn baby because of new laws allowing abortion up to birth, and infanticide for a baby who survives an abortion attempt.
Webster’s New International Dictionary, Second Edition, defines infanticide as:
The killing of a newly or recently born child; the practice of killing infants; child murder. Infanticide was anciently largely lawful and common and is still so among many savage and semicivilized [peoples]; among the civilized nations it is murder. Cf. ABORTION; FETICIDE.
Minnesota’s current abortion laws are savage and uncivilized. When a baby is alive and given no medical or nutritional care, the result is death. So-called “comfort care” is not life-sustaining and is truly uncaring. Refusing to give food to an infant is murder by starvation.
Paul Stark, Communication director for MCCL, commented on how this year’s march brought truth to light: “It was unique because of the 12,000 baby models and the challenging circumstances we are now facing. Those things made it a very powerful commemoration of lives lost and call to protect life.”
2. Because marches involve the next generation
Stark told Pregnancy Help News (PHN) that this year “more young people than usual attended,” and “a lot of kids from different schools came.”
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The keynote speaker, Abby Hewitt of Pine Island, age 15, was born with life-threatening heart defects, and doctors told her parents that her chance of survival was only 40%. During her presentation she expressed concern over lack of protection for newborns in Minnesota saying, “Babies born sick like I was are now in danger. If I were born in 2024… I could have been allowed to die even if my parents did choose life for me.”
She encouraged young people to get involved in promoting a pro-life culture in Minnesota.
“The truth changes people,” Hewitt said. “Young people need to be bold. We are the leaders and policy makers of tomorrow.”
“We don’t have to be rich or famous or even adults to create change,” she added.
Hans Tramm (15) and his sister Maria Tramm (18) came to the march from Marshall, Minn. Their father, John Tramm, senior pastor of Radiant Life Church, led the large crowd in prayer. Maria told PHN that “God’s Word makes it clear that we should stand up for life.” They expressed hope that the march would help bring about repentance and “change the government and culture” to be pro-life.
Eliana (11) and her sister Kina (13) of Waseca, Minn. were enthusiastic participants as part of a Lutherans for Life group. Eliana told PHN she hoped the march would help cause Minnesota’s pro-abortion bills to be “poof… gone!”
Kina told PHN that she “said yes to be in a Y4Life club,” a Christian pro-life youth organization that equips “high school and college-aged youth to be Gospel-motivated voices 4 Life,” according to its website, www.Y4Life.org.
Saying yes to taking action for life was a theme of the day – for youth as well as adults. Hewitt pointed out that her pro-life testimony before a Minnesota Senate committee has been heard by hundreds of thousands online.
“It started with my willingness to say yes to speaking the truth in love,” she said. “Just one yes. What will you say yes to today?”
Tweet This: Pro-life marches matter because unborn babies can’t march, talk, lodge a complaint, or file a lawsuit.
3. Because marches inspire more people to take pro-life action
Cathy Blaeser, co-director of MCCL, also encouraged marchers to say yes to taking pro-life action. She asked that people sign up for MCCL’s email updates to “have an impact right now, not just next November.” She also invited people to reach out via MCCL.org for post-abortive healing resources.
Don Parker, legislative director of MCCL, had many specific ideas.
“People do not know that we now have abortion up to birth [or] that we leave newborn babies to die,” he said.
“Everybody, talk to your neighbors and friends about how radical and extreme this has gotten,” Parker said. “Ask them to call and write legislators, go back to your churches or schools and ask them to invite a [pro-life speaker].”
“We have a dynamic group of people that will come talk,” Parker added. “Please, ask for resources – literature [print and online]. We want to make Minnesota a pro-life state. We need you to do most of the work.”
Blaeser pointed out, “No more do we use tax dollars to help women choose life.” Thus, local pregnancy resource centers need more donations of time, baby items, and money.
4. Because pro-life marches honor God
Hewitt quoted the words of Jesus from Matthew 5:16, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Hearing thousands of voices singing Amazing Grace and seeing their heads bowed in prayer caused a bright light to shine on God’s glory in downtown Saint Paul on January 22.
Lisa of Lake Elmo, Minn., told PHN she joined the crowds to “spread the message of hope and of God’s love and mercy for those who’ve had an abortion. We hope women will get that message today.”
And as for Minnesota she said, “We have to pray for a conversion of heart, pray for change.”
